They resurfaced and heaved the huge Sphere onto the ledge where their saddlebags still lay.
"What was that? That magic stuff?" Rainbow gasped
"I have no idea. I've never seen anything like it." Daring said
"Me neither, and I've seen a lot of crazy stuff."
Rainbow put her forelegs on the ledge and hoisted herself out of the water. It was only then that Daring realized how cold the water was. She was so wrapped up in the adventure she hadn't even noticed. Daring shivered a little as Rainbow held out her hoof. Daring took it gratefully and got out of the grotto's water. They shook themselves like dogs, drying off as well as they could.
"Is it just me or did the water turn colder when the Sphere was taken?" Rainbow asked
"I think we were just to distracted to realize how cold it was. But it might be that the Sphere was keeping the grotto from having freezing cold water." Daring replied, shaking her mane out.
"Well, we'd better fly back out." Rainbow said, picking up her saddlebag. Daring did the same, then they both turned to the Sphere. Rainbow locked eyes with Daring. "Together?"
"Together." she agreed. They reached and scooped up the Sphere, flying up the slide and out of the stone door.
--------------------------------
Daring sat in front of a crackling fire, relishing the warmth. Rainbow was sitting next to her, holding a stick with a carrot out into the fire. Rainbow had flown to Horseshoe Bay and bought some more food. Their sleeping bags and tent were hanging on a rope on the other side of the fire, drying.
"This is what I expected from an adventure." Rainbow said, pulling the carrot out and testing it. She bit into it.
"Really?"
"Well, not really, but still." Rainbow replied, taking another bite of her carrot.
"Did you feel that magic heal you?" Daring asked
"Yeah. I wrenched one of my muscles at practice a few months ago, it feels completely fine. Heck, even the injury from when I clipped my wing at Wonderbolt Academy is gone."
"I guess that's proof it really can heal any ailment."
"Are you going to give it to Mojo now? Like you promised in Marked Thief of Marapore?"
"Yeah. I'll let him touch it before I take it to a museum. But I'm going to give him another month, so he can finish righting all his wrongs. Besides, Ravenhoof will want to examine it, seeing as how we've been hunting this thing for years."
"What's the plan?"
"We make camp for the night, then fly back to your place in the morning. We never finished our hangout time." Daring replied.
"Fantastic. I still have a whole lot to teach you." Rainbow replied